In August
2015 we are delighted to welcome our new Parish Priest Fr. TJ Plower MSC.

Fr. TJ was born in Clostoken, Loughrea, Co. Galway in 1944 and was educated
at St Joseph’s National School in Carrabane. He completed his second
level education with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Cork. He
went on to do his novitiate and philosophy studies in Myross Wood, West Cork,
making his first profession on September 21, 1964.

He then returned to the West of Ireland where he completed his theology studies
in Moyne Park, Co. Galway and was ordained to the priesthood on December
21, 1969.

After a year spent in Liverpool in St Albert’s Parish, he was appointed
to the MSC Region in South Africa in 1971.

Fr. TJ gave many years of service to the MSC apostolates in South Africa
working in different parts of that land during the trouble times of apartheid.

His final contribution was as Regional Leader for six years from 1997 to
2003. He returned to Ireland for a sabbatical break in 2003, when instead
of returning to South Africa, as had been his intention, he found himself
accepting an appointment to the MSC parish Killinarden, West Dublin.
He remained there until 2011.

In
2011 Fr TJ took up an appointment as Parish Assistant in the MSC Parish of
the Resurrection, Ballinfoyle, Co. Galway where he combined this ministry
with his work as Chaplain in the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology

In 2012, Fr TJ was one of nine priests from the Missionaries of the Sacred
Heart celebrating their Diamond, Golden, Ruby, and Silver Jubilees of their
ordinations (between them devoting four hundred years to their vocations –
mainly in Africa and South America).

Celebrations took place on July 2nd, with family and friends and a concelebrated
Mass at the MSC community at Western Road, Cork.

Fr TJ is now here with us in St Albans - we are sure we will all give him
a warm welcome and pray that Fr. TJ’s words and example will inspire and guide
our Parish community for the years to come.